‘Getting a PhD Is Just the Beginning’
In autumn 2024, Yea Rem Choi, from South Korea, Junior Research Fellow at the International Laboratory for Supercomputer Atomistic Modelling and Multi-scale Analysis and assistant at the HSE MIEM School of Applied Mathematics, defended his doctoral dissertation on applied mathematics at HSE University. Yea Rem Choi talked to the HSE News Service about the soft skills that helped him in his research, how he is building a career, and why he chose HSE University for his doctoral studies.
Yea Rem Choi
— Which university did you graduate from?
— I did my bachelor’s at Bauman Moscow State Technical University. I then enrolled in the Master’s in Applied Mathematics and Informatics at HSE MIEM, which I graduated from in 2019. I have been working at the International Laboratory for Supercomputer Atomistic Modelling and Multi-scale Analysis since 2018.
— Why did you choose HSE University for your work and doctoral studies?
— After graduating from my master’s programme at HSE University, I decided to continue my studies on a doctoral programme. The main factor was knowing and getting approval from an academic supervisor of the doctoral programme, whom I met as a master’s student in my former supervisor’s research group.
— What do you remember most about your master’s degree?
— There were a lot of good things and a lot of difficult things. In the doctoral programme, research was more important that studying certain subjects.
I can say that my academic supervisor offered a lot of assistance, including mentoring in terms of methodology and the direction of the research
I believe that meeting him was the most important factor in this process (the doctoral programme and dissertation defence).
— Now that you are working at HSE University, what subjects do you need to know the most about?
— For teaching, you need to know everything that’s in the course for a given subject. For research, you need to be constantly reading unfamiliar scientific articles and supplementing the required knowledge.
— Which soft skills did you gain at HSE University?
— At HSE University, I ran subject seminars, which provided practice communicating with an audience. I gave talks at conferences, and so learned to present and explain material.
In my experience, you need to learn soft skills independently, but the situations I mentioned are an opportunity to practice them.
— How did you decide on your professional career? How is your professional journey going?
— I consider three main factors: temporary risk (losing income, for example due to job termination or health reasons), size of salary, and growth rate. It is difficult to assess all the prospects while I’m still in the early stages.
People say that getting a PhD is only the beginning—and it’s true.
I don’t consider money to be the most important thing in life, but you’ll have more necessary expenses at certain points. Secondary factors, such as a good team and atmosphere, also matter.
—Do you have any advice or lifehacks for current students?
The most important thing is to have a good academic supervisor with whom you get along well
A considerable portion of doctoral students don’t make it to the defence stage due to disagreements with their supervisors.
— The topic of your dissertation was ‘Parallel matrix multiplication and matrix exponent algorithms based on asynchronous data transfers between several graphics accelerators, and their application to solve the non-stationary Schrödinger equation.’ Why did you choose this topic?
— The initial version of the topic was formulated by my supervisor, Prof. Vladimir Stegailov. I also found it interesting, so I chose it. I led the research, and discussed the results and their veracity with Prof. Stegailov.
— What are your scientific and professional plans for the future?
— I plan to teach while also conducting research at HSE University. In terms of research, I am thinking of pursuing a topic related to my dissertation.
— How is living and working in Moscow? What would you show someone visiting the city? Do you have time for sport or hobbies?
— My impressions are mixed.
There are difficulties, but life in Moscow is not bad
However, in terms of the future, there are no guarantees that everything will be fine and work out.
I would show people Red Square, the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, the Arbat, Sparrow Hills, the Tretyakov Gallery, the ballet or a classical concert. You can also take a walk along Nikolskaya Ulitsa and see St Basil’s Cathedral.
I don’t always have time for sport or hobbies. I do different things to relax. One of my hobbies is playing musical instruments. I play the violin, piano, bass guitar, and percussion. I play for my own enjoyment.
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